Athene North Shore Recreation Area

Easter Lake is the real draw here, and the recent renovation finally did it justice. The splash pad sits right next to the beach, so little kids can bounce between the water feature and the sand without anyone losing their minds. Everything’s been designed with accessibility in mind — this isn’t an afterthought, it’s actually built that way from the ground up. Restrooms are on-site and actually decent, which matters more than people admit. If you’re an east-side Des Moines local looking for a summer spot that works for the whole family, this one’s worth the trip.